Toll road operators asked to install ETC systems before year-end

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The has affirmed that investors in Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contracts will have to stop collecting fees if they don't install electronic toll collection (ETC) systems by the end of this year.

The made the statement at a meeting to review the progress of the installation of ETC systems held in Hanoi on March 6.

Regarding to the ETC under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) format, the minister asked agencies under his management to complete all procedures to sign contracts with the investor a joint venture between the VETC Vietnam Joint Stock Company and TASCO Joint Stock Company. The also urged the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam to finish international bidding work to select investors for BOO projects including toll stations on National Highway 1 and Ho Chi Minh Highway crossing through the Central Highlands.

He proposed agencies review and amend Circular 49 on the organization and operation of road toll booths, and amend Decree 46 on penalties for administrative violations in the field of road and rail transport so that priority will be given to vehicles with ETC tags.

There are more than 3 million cars nationwide but less than 1 million are equipped with E-tags.

To speed up the progress, The said the ministry would submit a report to the Prime Minister suggesting all public vehicles install E-tags. Accordingly, all public cars from central to local level had to complete by June 30.

The ministry will work with localities to figure out an E-tag that could travel through all stations to encourage them use ETC and increase the transparency for toll collection, he said.